The United States said Friday there is an increased risk of terrorism in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and urged US citizens living and traveling there to take extra precautions, according to AFP

"There's no reason to think there's a specific threat directed at Americans, but we are urging Americans to increase their vigilance security-wise," a State Department official said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, referred to a public announcement the department released late Thursday which also contained the warning.

The comments came in explanation of a traveler's advisory that was issued by the State Department this morning regarding Israel and Palestine, said the Jerusalem Post web edition Friday.

"The US government believes that there is an increased possibility of terrorist attacks in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza," the announcement said.

The announcement did not elaborate and the official declined to provide more details as to the sources of the possible attacks.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher could also provide no details, but said the threats were real and must be taken seriously.

"The department has assessed the threat to be serious enough to warrant the issuance of a public announcement," he told reporters.

The announcement said "Americans citizens in Israel should be alert to their surroundings and report suspicious packages or any unusual activities to the police."

It added that caution should be used on public transportation, in the vicinity of bus stops and other crowded areas – (Several Sources)